Alcohol

Drink spiking

Drink spiking is when alcohol or another substance is added to a person's drink without them knowing. As a result the person may become intoxicated quickly and unexpectedly. A spiked drink is also known as a ‘mickey finn' or being ‘slipped a mickey'.

Drink spiking can expose you to dangerous situations, such as:

assault

robbery

sexual assault and unsafe sex

health effects of consuming unknown drugs.

Offenders use drink spiking to get easy control of their "victims". The drugs used in drink spiking can immobilise and silence you. By using drugs, the offender does not have to use physical force or overcome any form of resistance from you. In addition, because of the effects of certain drugs, you may become confused and not remember what happened.

What drugs are used?

Alcohol is the most common drink spiking ingredient. Alcohol may be added to non alcoholic drinks or to alcoholic drinks in much greater quantities, causing higher levels of consumption and intoxication than intended.

Rohypnol is a drug commonly used to spike drinks. Rohypnol is the brand name for flunitrazepam, a depressant drug related to Valium (but ten times more potent). Depressant drugs slow down the activity of your brain and other parts of the central nervous system.

Gamma hydroxybutyrate acid (GHB) has been identified as a ‘date-rape drug', due to its effects of amnesia, as well as impaired movement and speech. GHB can be added to drinks without visible trace.

Treatment

If you are concerned that your drink has been spiked, it is important to get a medical check as soon as possible. Some drugs that may have been used to spike a drink are detectable in urine for 3-4 days after ingestion. Others such as GHB are only detectable up to eight hours. A medical check is important to ensure that you are treated for any ill effects which may result from having your drink spiked.

An initiative of the Inspire Foundation, Reach Out! is a web based service that provides information, support and interactive features to help young people get through tough times. Reach Out! provides an information page on drinking responsibly and safe partying.

DrugInfo Clearinghouse is a service provided by the Australian Drug Foundation. It functions as a drug prevention network providing information about alcohol, other drugs, and drug prevention. Attached is their information pages about drink spiking.

Better Health Channel is a Victorian site that provides health and medical information, fact sheets on health conditions, healthy living tips and questions & answers from health experts. Below is a link to their information on drink spiking.

If you are concerned about someone who believes their drink has been spiked, it is helpful to be as supportive as possible, stay with them, ensure they are safe and encourage them to seek medical attention. It is also important that you contact police on these occasions, especially if a robbery or assault has occured.

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